The Veteran's service connection for a respiratory disorder, to include COPD, was denied. The rating in excess of 10 percent for ischemic heart disease and the scar from coronary surgery associated with ischemic heart disease were also denied. Additionally, the Board found that there was no evidence to support an earlier effective date for TDIU prior to May 19, 2010.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's respiratory disorder did not have its clinical onset in service and is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service. The workload solely due to the Veteran’s ischemic heart disease was found to be greater than seven to ten METs.
- Claimed conditions
- COPD, Ischemic heart disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- March 5, 2021
- Citation
- 21012706
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21012706.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 30 percent prior to July 18, 2014, and a higher than 60 percent rating thereafter for ischemic heart disease is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The examiner needs to provide more detailed information about the severity of his service-connected condition.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current respiratory disability and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the COPD was more likely due to tobacco use rather than asbestos exposure in service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, attributing it to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. COPD is considered a disease associated with such exposure.
- Granted
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for COPD. The Veteran's COPD is presumed due to exposure to herbicides, but the evidence does not support a finding that it began during active service or is related to in-service exposure.
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